Genres Openings

 Genres and Their Openings

One of the key purposes of the opening sequences is to establish a genre. How a film opens could tell the audience a lot about the film genre. 

Genres usually have conventional openings, with similarities to other films of the same genre. 

Horror movies usually open peacefully or calmly. This is also referred to as the "calm before the storm". The openings usually calmly foreshadow something, and then, gradually, there is a build up to the suspense and the horror events. Horror openings usually use establishing shot to set the time and place, and in the opening, introduce the main character(s) that have to experience the foredooming events. Sound also plays a vital role in the horror genre. The producers know how to play with the sound; the alteration between silence and blasts of sound. Conventionally, in openings, there is silence, quietness, and little to no sound. Then sound effects such as jump scares catch the audience off guard and scare them. Moreover, horror movies also conventionally have eerie, creepy music that contribute to fear and anticipation. It is full of suspense and tension. The colour grading is dark and gloomy.

Romance movies are usually slow paced, with bright colour grading that illustrate a sense of hope and joy. It usually shows parallel narrative, introducing the two main characters that the story would revolve around. The sound includes calm, peaceful background music, or sometimes upbeat background music. This allows audience to interpret the possible genre. There are often close ups of smiles and laughter of the characters. The mise-en-scene has bright lightings, open and airy places such as parks etc. 

Fantasy fiction movies are very different, as the diegesis is unique and far from reality. Their opening usually contain establishing the location with the help of editing such as superimpose, that tell the audience about the film world and the fantasy world. Moreover, fantasy films tell more and more about the characters through sound such as dialogue, The mise-en-scene shows the fantasy world and the fantasy characters that are unusual and unrealistic. The colour grading depends usually on the narrative of the film, and conventional opens with bright color grading. The background music is usually upbeat and cheerful. The opening also shows unrealistic creatures from the diegesis to establish the genre.